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Journey toward spiritual maturity
… until Christ is formed in you. (Galatians 4:19)
The Spiritual Trans-Formation Process at CFC
Is life change possible?
"What is your reaction when you read this question? Do you believe
that a changed life really can happen? If you are like most people,
your gut-level response is “No”. There are more self-help books
available today, yet our world is filled with more broken lives,
broken-marriages, broken homes than ever before. Instead of
persevering with the changes you desire to see in your life, you may
be ready to throw in the towel, saying “what’s the use?”
You may even be thinking that Christianity has sold you
a “bill of goods”. For you, the Christian life may feel more like a
cycle of trying hard to do good and then failing, time and time
again. When you get tired of failing you decide to just fake it. It
is like wearing a mask, faking the Christian life, living with
guilt, struggle and lack of peace. There is a growing sense of
futility in your heart. The “new life” you were promised when you
became a Christian feels a lot like the old life. And the bondage to
old sinful habits doesn’t seem to have been broken." - Chip Ingram, The Miracle of Life Change
Calvary Fellowship Church desires to come along side of you as
you travel this journey toward becoming the person that God longs
for you to be. Life change is possible through Jesus Christ and the
transforming power of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer.
 God
is in the process of transforming every believer into the image of
Christ. (2 Cor 3: 18). The
word for transformation in the bible comes from the Greek word metamorphoo, from which we get the word metamorphosis. The
definition is to be changed into another form. The most familiar
illustration of a metamorphosis in nature occurs when a caterpillar
morphs into a butterfly.
In its most simplistic form, spiritual metamorphosis has three
stages:
- Spiritual metamorphosis begins with spiritual birth. (John 3:5-8)
- Spiritual metamorphosis continues toward spiritual maturity.
(Ephesians 4:13, Romans 8:28-29)
- Spiritual metamorphosis completes its work with spiritual
reproduction. (Hebrews 5:12-14, 2 Timothy 2:2)
Just as there is molding and shaping that happens with the butterfly
in the cocoon, so transformation is a process. The Bible calls this
process “sanctification”. This means that the moment you receive
God’s free gift of eternal life (John 3:16, 5:24), the Holy Spirit
of God comes into your life and begins the transformation process in
you. God longs for you to progressively surrender control of your
life to Him so that the life of Christ can be lived out through you.
God is working every day, in every way using every circumstance,
every person and every situation, to morph you into the image of His
Son.
 He
desires to make you a kind of mirror that reflects the character,
love, grace and holiness of Jesus Christ living His life through
you. That’s what holy transformation, or sanctification is all
about.
Butterflies are transformed in cocoons … Believers are morphed in
the cocoon of authentic, biblical community. This includes
vulnerable, intimate, accountable relationships centered on God’s
Word and prayer. These are relationships that encourage an openness
to share with one another what’s really going on – confessing sin,
encouraging one another, sharing where we’ve blown it, praying for
another and growing in Christ together.
Calvary Fellowship Church exists to glorify God by making
fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ who impact their families,
communities and the world with the Word of God.
This disciple making process starts with sharing the hope of new
life through faith in Jesus Christ (evangelism) with the EXPLORER.
When someone receives the free gift of eternal life as a NEW
BELIEVER, this person becomes a member of the family of God and
requires nurturing and care. The focus is on helping this new
Christian become rooted and established in the faith so that he/she
may begin growing toward maturity. As a GROWING DISCIPLE, the
focus shifts to equipping him/her for works of service and ministry.
At the next stage, a MATURING WORKER is then empowered to
live a life of mentoring and shepherding others, repeating the disciple
making, transformation process for the next generation of Believers.
What is the ultimate goal of Spiritual Formation?
Unity, Knowledge and Maturity … Ephesians 4:11-13
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some
to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers to
prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians
4:11-13)
We recognize that spiritual formation in the life of a believer is a
work of God’s grace empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are also called
to work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who
works in us to will and act according to his good purpose
(Philippians 2:12-13).
Jesus makes it clear that the life of a disciple involves obedience
and sacrifice as we follow him. Then Jesus said to them all: “If
anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
As you grow in your walk with the Lord, CFC offers a variety of
spiritual growth and development opportunities to support your
journey toward maturity in Christ.
What are some of the signs that someone is maturing in their walk
with Christ? Ephesians 4:14-16 offers at least four criteria to help
assess spiritual growth.
The first evidence of spiritual maturity is doctrinal
stability.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth
by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching
and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful
scheming. (Ephesians 4:14)
The second evidence of spiritual maturity is authentic
relationships.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things
grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ… (Ephesians 4:15)
The third evidence of spiritual maturity is full
participation in the body of Christ.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every
supporting ligament, … (Ephesians 4:16a)
The fourth evidence of spiritual maturity is that you grow
in love.
… grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does
its work. (Ephesians 4:16b)
To learn more about the miracle of life change and to initiate
the spiritual transformation journey in your own life, consider
attending the Miracle of Life Change class that is offered regularly
at CFC. This 10-week course utilizes materials from Walk Thru the
Bible Ministries ©.
At Calvary Fellowship Church, a fully-devoted follower of Christ
…
- Is devoted to worship and service of Jesus Christ;
- Respects the authority of God’s Word;
- Responds to the control of the Holy Spirit;
- Serves in his/her areas of spiritual giftedness;
- Shares the gospel through word and deed;
- Is meaningfully involved in biblical community with other believers;
- Lives a life characterized by love for God and people;
- Bears fruit and makes more disciples;
- Lives a life of faith and discipline for the glory of God.
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